When opening the meeting, Mr Putin noted a positive development of economic ties between the two countries. He said that their foreign trade turnover exceeded $5 billion in 2000.
There is not a single complication in Russian-Polish relations, Mr Putin said.
He confirmed his readiness to pay an official visit to Poland on January 16–17, 2002. The date was not chosen by chance: on January 17, 1945, Soviet troops liberated Warsaw.
The Presidents discussed prospects for developing bilateral relations, especially in view of Poland’s forthcoming entry into the European Union, general aspects of Russia-EU relations and Russian-Polish transport and cultural cooperation.
Mr Kwasniewski said after the talks that the two countries’ positions on such issues as the fight against international terrorism and European integration coincided. He called the talks interesting and fruitful.